bairnsfather55 comments

@tkoind2

Your points are well taken, but the "previous generation of workers" fought for its rights, including the retirement age of 60 (or thereabouts, depending on the country) decades ago, like in the 1930's spanning to the 60's. In the decades since those struggles that you're referring to, not only has life expectancy gone up from the 60-somethings to the late 70's or into the 80's, but those who make it to age 62 are a lot more robust and able-bodied than they would've been, on average, in the 1960's or before.

Oh, and WE CAN'T AFFORD A PENSION SYSTEM THAT STARTS AT AGE 60, there's that too, if that makes any difference.

My understanding is that they are not demanding "better conditions," but that these strikes solely have to do with raising the retirement age from 60, which is insanely young, to 62, which is still pretty f'n young. These people will do anything not to work, except work, heh.